Borgstede and Bohnsak Take Breck Big Air

January 08, 2000

About two thousand spectators showed up at the base of Breck’s PeakEight for the Doritos Loud Air & Style to see if they could answer one question: Can anyone beat Jason Borgstede? The answer, a two runs in a row NO. Nick Drago and Myles Hallenrounded out the men’s podium, beating out names like Wastell, Hinkley, andOtterstrom.

On the women’s side of things it was Sims rider Kim Bohnsak whotook the win with a backside five (possibly the first one in competition).Behind her, rising from a small list of unknowns were second-place AliBernstein and third-place Jen Karcsinski.

Girdwood, Alaska’s Jason Borgstede, who’s only been riding for acouple weeks since separating his shoulder, stood out by stomping afrontside nine tail grab and a fakie three-sixty backflip-”which we kindanamed a Borguerial”-over the forty two foot long, twelve or so foot highjump.

The name of that winning jump, the Borguerial, actually came longbefore the move had ever been done. “When I was little,” Jason remembers,”we all just thought, what would you name a trick if you made one up? Thefunniest thing I could think of was Borguerial.” Borgstede is stilllaughing, and holding a check for $3500.

Kim Bohnsak, who won the Westbeach Classic last spring, didn’t haveas much of a story. A backside five is a good trick off a sizeable jumpwith a hardpacked landing-the snow and blazing wind making it that muchharder to pull-but two things were lacking: a grab, and the competition.The talent deficiency was made obvious by the fact that third place went toa frontside air.

While the pool of big-time riders didn’t rival that of the moreinternational crowd at the Vans Triple Crown event held here a month ago,the men’s field was legit. But women, especially with the absence of AnneMolin Kongsgard who accompanied a friend to the hospital after she was hurtin practice, weren’t very well represented.

Part of the reason for a good, but not great (except for what Ialready mentioned) turnout was the prize money: $3500 for first place isless than half of what a normal contest pays. The big air at Grand Prixevents is also not sanctioned by anyone, so riders going for points,titles, and money usually end up somewhere else.

Also happening today were the pipe qualifiers. It was the rulingregulars making the cut; Ross Powers, of course, turned the most heads.Tommy “The Machice” Czeschin, who also held his own in the big air, wasripping the pipe, too. Girls in heat included the next big thing, KimStacey, and the ones you’d expect, like tough-girl top qualifier AurelieSayres from Oregon.

The Alpine racers, including yesterday’s G.S. winners, Chris Klugand Rosie Fletcher were back out training this morning with their coachesand teams after a short-lived celebration last night. They leave monday forEurope.

Tomorrow is superpipe action at its finest. Look for Powers tolight it up in his first contest since being banned for using a nutritionalsupplement. See you then.